Educational and training tool using matching techniques and method of developing and utilizing the same

Abstract

A training and education tool in the form of a game. The game is facilitated by software and computer means. A personal computer, including a processor, display and interface device (e.g., mouse, touch screen, haptic device, etc.), is used to implement the education and training tool. A game creation tool allows a user to create a game matrix having game positions filled with text, symbols, colors and/or static or video images. Once the game is created, a game play tool utilizes recognition, association and repetition whereby a player must align two or more matching game matrix positions by switching the position of at least two game matrix positions within the game matrix. Each successful alignment results in an award of points and/or time. Difficulty increases as a player successfully advances through timed game levels.

1 . A game development system for developing a game playable via electronic media, comprising:
 a game creation tool including means for a user to perform one or more of the following:
 enter a number of game positions to form a game matrix; 
 enter text, symbols, colors, and/or static or video images to be displayed within said game positions; 
 enter a number of game levels and associated difficulty; 
 enter number of topics and topic types; 
 enter a time period for play of each of said game levels; and 
 enter points and/or time awarded for specific game results; 
   means for device for randomly incorporating the text, symbols, colors and/or static or video images in the game positions; and   a game play tool programmed to:
 permit a player to switch text, symbols, colors and/or static or video images from a first game position with text, symbols, colors and/or static or video images from a second game position in an effort to align two or more like text, symbols, colors and/or static or video images within said game matrix; 
 award points and/or time based on the player aligning two or more like text, symbols, colors and/or static or video images within said game matrix; and 
 advance game levels responsive to the player obtaining a threshold number of points during a pre-established time period associated with a subject game level. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said game creation tool further includes means to generate quiz questions. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein said game play tool is further programmed to display one of said quiz questions responsive to pre-established game criteria. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein said pre-established game criteria is selected from the group consisting of total number of points, use of pre-established game positions and level time. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said game creation tool further includes means to integrate a bonus activated with an alignment of one or more pre-established game positions. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said game play tool is configured to communicate with a haptic device such that said haptic device permits a player to switch text, symbols, colors and/or static or video images from a first game position with text, symbols, colors and/or static or video images from a second game position in an effort to align two or more like text, symbols, colors and/or static or video images within said game matrix. 
     
     
         7 . A method for developing a game playable on an electronic media, comprising:
 via a game creation tool allowing a user to perform one or more of the following:
 entering a number of game positions to form a game matrix; 
 entering text, symbols, colors and/or static or video images to be displayed within said game positions; 
 enter number of topics and topic types; 
 entering a number of game levels and associated difficulty; 
 entering a time period for play of each of said game levels; and 
 entering points and/or time awarded for specific game results; 
   randomly incorporating the text, symbols, colors and/or static or video images within the game positions; and   via a game play tool:
 permitting a player to switch text, symbols, colors and/or static or video images from a first game position with text, symbols, colors and/or static or video images from a second game position in an effort to align two or more like text, symbols, colors and/or static or video images within said game matrix; 
 awarding points and/or time based on the player aligning or more like text, symbols, colors and/or static or video images on said game matrix; and 
 advancing game levels responsive to the player obtaining a threshold number of points during a pre-established time period associated with a subject game level. 
   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising, via said game creation tool, generating quiz questions. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising, via said game play tool, displaying one of said quiz questions responsive to pre-established game criteria. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising establishing said pre-established game criteria as one or more of the following: total number of points, use of pre-established game positions and level time. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising, via said game creation tool, integrating a bonus associated with alignment of one or more pre-established game positions. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising configuring the game play tool to communicate with a haptic device whereby a player may use the haptic device to switch text, symbols, colors and/or static or video images from a first game position with text, symbols, colors and/or static or video images from a second game position in an effort to align two or more like text, symbols, colors and/or static or video images within said game matrix 
     
     
         13 . A computer storage medium for developing a game playable via electronic media, comprising:
 game creation code facilitating a user performing one or more of the following:
 entering a number of game positions to form a game matrix; 
 entering text, symbols, colors and/or static or video images to be displayed within said game positions; 
 entering a number of topics and topic types; 
 entering a number of game levels and associated difficulty; 
 entering a time period for play of each of said game levels; and 
 entering points and/or time awarded for specific game results; 
   code for randomly incorporating the text, symbols, colors and/or static or video images within the game positions; and   game play code for:
 permitting a player to switch text, symbols, colors and/or static or video images from a first game position with text, symbols, colors and/or static or video images from a second game position in an effort to align two or more like text, symbols, colors and/or static or video images within said game matrix; 
 awarding points and/or time based on the player aligning two or more like text, symbols, colors and/or static or video images on said game matrix; and 
 advancing game levels responsive to the player obtaining a threshold number of points during a pre-established time period associated with a subject game level. 
   
     
     
         14 . The computer storage medium of  claim 13  further comprising game creation code for facilitating a user generating quiz questions. 
     
     
         15 . The computer storage medium of  claim 14  further comprising game play code for displaying one of said quiz questions responsive to pre-established game criteria. 
     
     
         16 . The computer storage medium of  claim 15  wherein said pre-established game criteria is selected from the group consisting of total number of points, use of pre-established game positions and level time. 
     
     
         17 . The computer storage medium of  claim 13  further comprising game creation code facilitating a user integrating a bonus associated with alignment of one or more pre-established game positions. 
     
     
         18 . An educational tool for use with an electronic media comprising:
 a game matrix including a plurality of game positions wherein each game position includes text, colors, symbols and/or static or video images associated with a specific educational topic;   a game play tool configured to:
 permit a player to switch a first game position with a second game position in an effort to align two or more like text, symbols, colors and/or static or video images within said game matrix; 
 award points and/or time based on the player aligning two or more like text, symbols, colors and/or static or video images within said game matrix; 
 remove and replace game positions which are aligned and result in an award of points and/or time; and 
 advance game levels responsive to the player obtaining a threshold number of points during a pre-established time period associated with a subject game level, each subsequent game level increasing in difficulty. 
   
     
     
         19 . The educational tool of  claim 18  wherein the game play tool is further configured to interrupt normal game play to display quiz questions randomly or responsive to certain game criteria. 
     
     
         20 . The educational tool of  claim 18  wherein the game play tool is further configured to interrupt normal game play with bonus play based on pre-established game positions being aligned within said game matrix. 
     
     
         21 . The educational tool of  claim 18  further comprising a game creation tool including means for a user to perform one or more of the following:
 enter a number of game positions to form said game matrix;   enter said text, symbols, colors and/or static or video images to be displayed within said game positions;   enter number of topics and topic types;   enter a number of game levels and associated difficulty;   enter a time period for play of each of said game levels; and   enter points and/or time awarded for specific game results; and   means for randomly incorporating the text, symbols, colors and/or static or video images in the game positions.   
     
     
         22 . The educational tool of  claim 18  wherein a player is permitted to switch a first game position with a second game position in an effort to align two or more like text, symbols, colors and/or static or video images within said game matrix using a haptic device in communication with said educational tool.